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; (No Model.) i

J. B. WALKER.

PHOTOGRAPHIG VIGNETTER.

No. 519,800. Patented May 15,1894.

r' V I Wtnesses: In neuter.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. WALKER, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO B. W. IVALKER, OF SAME PLACE.

PH OTOG RAP H IC VIGNETTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,800, dated May 15, 1894.

Application filed March 16, 1893- Serial No. 466,278. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN B. WALKER, of Kansas City, Wyandotte county, Kansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Vignetters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to photographic vignettes, and the object ofthe invention is to produce a vignetting attachment whereby the light is more widely diffused, resulting therefore in a softer vignette, and whereby also a graduation of shade is obtained. Furthermore to produce a vignetting attachment which is strong, light and inexpensive. These objects I accomplish, as will be understood from reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a face view of a vignetting attachment, constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and also showing in vertical section a printing-frame to which the attachmentis applied.

A sheet of papier-mach or other suitable plastic material, of suitable size and shape is first cut away at or near its middle to form an opening of any desired shape, pear-shape preferably as shown; this opening being serrated or scalloped marginally as at 3. One or more series of perforations or apertures 2,

are formed through the sheet adjacent to said opening, these perforations or apertures being arranged preferably parallel with the margin of said opening and may entirely surround said opening or not, as desired. The sheet is now adapted to be placed between suitable dies to mold or press that portion of the sheet immediately surrounding the apertures or holes and the opening so that it shall converge outwardly and so that the margin of the opening (in side View or section) shall incline downwardly and inwardly. This is accomplished by molding or pressing at the upper portion to a greater distance from the margin of the upper end of the opening, and preferably gradually decreasing or tapering to the shortest portion at the bottom orlower end of the said opening. At the junction of the flat or body-portion of the sheet with the corrugations are also for another purpose which will presently be explained.

The attachment thus formed is secured to a photograph frame 4 in the usual manner, this frame being of the ordinary construction, having the glass 5 and the usual presserboard 6, clamped in place in the usual manner by spring-plates 7. Now, when the negative is secured in position and exposed to to the sun, the intervening space between the raised portion of the attachment and the negative, diifuses the light and a uniform gradation of printing upon the photograph is obtained from the margin of the opening to a distance beyond the outermost line of perforations, these perforations admitting sufficient light to blend the shading uniformly.

The serrated or irregular margin of the opening prevents an abrupt line that would be printed upon the photograph were the margin of the opening even or not serrated. The corrugations or scallops in the raised or elevated portion not only stiffen the attachment, but they also serve to confine and deflect the light in such manner as to materially assist in blending the shading upon the photograph. When the negative is adjusted properly within the frame relative to the upwardly converging portion at the lower end of the opening, the frame may be disposed toward the sun in such manner that the said upwardly converging portion will stop the line of printing at any desired point.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a photographic printing frame, of a vignetting attachment secured to said frame, and comprising a sheet 3. A vignetting attachment for photographio-printing frames, comprising a sheet of suitable material provided with an opening having its margin irregular or serrated, and molded to form an outwardly converging or raised portion immediately around said opening, and corrugated or fluted, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I al'fix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN B. \VALKER.

Witnesses:

MAUI) FITZPATRICK, M. P. SMITH. 

